Shoe cover applicator device

Abstract

A shoe cover application device having a holding member for holding a shoe cover open in a receiving position to accommodate the insertion of a user shoe. The shoe cover application device also includes a separation member that separates the shoe cover from the holding member allowing the shoe cover to constrict around the user's shoe inserted into the shoe cover while the shoe cover was in the receiving position. Shoe covers of various materials, shapes and sizes may be used with the shoe cover application device of the present invention.

I claim:  
     
       1. A shoe cover application device for applying a shoe cover to a shoe comprising: 
       a holding member, said holding member configured to hold a first shoe cover in a receiving position;  
       a separation member;  
       a retaining member having a retaining position and a non-retaining position; and  
       an actuator selectively controlling the movement of said retaining member from the retaining position to the non-retaining position;  
       wherein when said retaining member is in the non-retaining position said separation member is operable to separate the shoe cover from said holding member.  
     
     
       2. The shoe cover application device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       a storage bin; and  
       a guiding system, said guiding system guiding the first shoe cover to said holding member from said bin.  
     
     
       3. The shoe cover application device of  claim 2 , wherein said actuator is coupled to said retaining member such that the activation of said actuator releases said retaining member from the retaining position. 
     
     
       4. The shoe cover application device of  claim 2  wherein said guiding system is coupled to said holding member to guide a second shoe cover to said holding member once the first shoe cover has been separated from said holding member. 
     
     
       5. The shoe cover application device of  claim 4 , wherein said retaining member is disposed to prevent said guiding system from guiding a shoe cover to said holding member when said retaining member is the retaining position. 
     
     
       6. The shoe cover application device of  claim 1  wherein said actuator is activated by the insertion of a shoe into the first shoe cover. 
     
     
       7. The shoe cover application device of  claim 6  wherein said actuator comprises a foot pedal disposed below the first shoe cover. 
     
     
       8. The shoe cover application device of  claim 1 , wherein said separation member comprises a cutting member for cutting said first shoe cover away from said holding member. 
     
     
       9. The shoe cover application device of  claim 1 , wherein said separation member is positioned such that upon removal of a shoe inserted into the first shoe cover, while the shoe is at least partially surrounded by the first shoe cover, said separation member separates the first shoe cover from said holding member allowing the first shoe cover to constrict around the shoe. 
     
     
       10. The shoe cover application device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a storage bin; and  
       a guiding system, said guiding system guiding the shoe cover to said holding member from said bin;  
       wherein the activation of said actuator releases said retaining member from said retaining position thereby allowing the removal of a shoe inserted into the first shoe cover, with the shoe at least partially surrounded by the first shoe cover.  
     
     
       11. The shoe cover application device of  claim 2 , wherein the first shoe cover is one end of a continuous lineal of shoe covers. 
     
     
       12. The shoe cover application device of  claim 11  wherein said retaining member is disposed to prevent said guiding system from guiding the first shoe cover to said holding member and to prevent the separation of the first shoe cover from the lineal of continuous shoe covers while said retaining member is in the retaining position. 
     
     
       13. The shoe cover application device of  claim 12 , wherein said actuator is coupled to said retaining member such that the activation of said actuator releases said retaining member from the retaining position. 
     
     
       14. The shoe cover application device of  claim 12  wherein said actuator is coupled to said retaining member such that the activation of said actuator release said retaining member from the retaining position, thereby allowing the first shoe cover to be separated from said holding member by said separation member and separated from the lineal of continuous shoe covers. 
     
     
       15. The shoe cover application device of  claim 14  wherein said guiding system is coupled to said holding member to guide a second shoe cover in the lineal of continuous shoe covers to said holding member once the first shoe cover is separated from said holding member and the lineal of continuous shoe covers.